Campaniling is a tradition that has been
participated in since the early
years of the campanile's existence. What eventually came to be known as
"campaniling" started as a premature form of courting for young students of the
Iowa State Teachers College. Young males would call up a random number in the female dorm,
asking whoever answered to meet them beneath the shadow of the campanile at a specific
time. When the appointed time came, the young man snuck up to the structure and hid behind
bushes where he could observe his "date" unnoticed. If he felt that she was
attractive or interesting enough for him to meet, he would step from the bushes and
introduce himself to the young woman. If she did not measure up to his expectations,
however, he would quickly retreat back to his room, leaving her underneath the campanile while he called another number and set up
his rendezvous for the next night. This tradition eventually evolved into
"campaniling" as women caught on to the idea that one was not a "true
co-ed" until she was kissed beneath the shadow of the campanile at midnight.
This tradition has grown into a huge event, one in which nearly every student participates
before he or she graduates from the university. In fact, high school seniors visiting the
university in their search for an institution of higher learning are often told by the
tour guides that for every student who graduates from UNI without being kissed in the
shadow of the campanile, a brick will fall from the tower. Obviously, the tradition that
started off as a way to meet one's mate has changed over the years and is continually
added to by students.